Pair plead not guilty to pub murder

Ryan Hadfield and Leon Atkinson pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Short, 23, when they appeared via video link at Liverpool Crown Court.

Mr Short was killed following a shooting at the Cotton Tree Pub in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, on May 25, the court heard.

Hadfield, 28, from Droylsden, and Atkinson, 35, from Ashton-under-Lyne, also entered not guilty pleas to charges of attempted murder on John Collins, Ryan Pridding and Michael Belcher who were in the pub with Mr Short at the time of the shooting. Hadfield and Atkinson were further remanded into custody ahead of an expected trial at Preston Crown Court on February 4.

The defendants' co-accused Dale Cregan, 29, of no fixed address, has previously entered not guilty pleas to seven charges, including the murder of Mr Short and the murder of Mr Short's father David, 46, on August 10.

Cregan also denies the murders of Greater Manchester Police constables Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone. The officers were killed on the morning of September 18 as they responded to a report of a burglary in Hattersley, Greater Manchester. He has also denied four counts of attempted murder and one count of causing an explosion.

Luke Livesey, 27, from Hattersley, and Damien Gorman, 37, from Glossop, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Short and three counts of attempted murder at an earlier hearing.

Anthony Wilkinson, 33, from Beswick, has previously denied the murder of David Short, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, attempted murder and causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

Jermaine Ward, 24, has also previously denied the murder of David Short, one count of attempted murder and an allegation of causing an explosion with a hand grenade.

The remaining defendants, Matthew James, 33, from Clayton; Francis Dixon, 37, from the Stalybridge area; and Mohammed Ali, 23, from Chadderton, have not been asked to enter a plea and are due to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on December 20. James is charged with the murder of Mark Short and three counts of attempted murder. Dixon is charged with the murder of David Short, attempted murder and causing an explosion. Ali is accused of assisting an offender.